United Way of Northeastern Minnesota is serious about how we invest one of our key resources: your dollars.
UWNEMN's Investment Plan outlines the community issues that UWNEMN is addressing through the work of our funded agency partners and our own initiatives. Through our annual campaign, we raise funds that are united from across our region to make an impact in these areas.
The fund distribution review process goes beyond a review of numbers, results and data; it provides an avenue for change, where resounding messages of gaps and needs in the community can be heard. This process has often planted the seeds for new UWNEMN programs. As the community's needs become apparent, we are able to generate awareness and convene stakeholders and resources to address the issues.
Agencies seeking funding submit applications each spring. Applications are carefully evaluated by panels of UWNEMN donors who volunteer to undergo training, review the applications, interview the non-profit agencies, and finally, debate the best distribution of UWNEMN funds. Around 75 panel volunteers are needed each year to make recommendations to UWNEMN's Board of Directors on how UWNEMN funds should be distributed.
REQUIREMENTS TO APPLY FOR UWNEMN FUNDING:
1) Must be a 501(c)3 nonprofit, project with an established 501(c)3 serving as fiscal agent, or government organization whose program(s) align with UWNEMN priority funding areas: Youth Opportunity, Healthy Community, Community Resiliency, Financial Security
2) Must serve people in UWNEMN's service area.
3) Organization or program must address a targeted issue in UWNEMN's Investment Plan.
Organizations or programs that did not receive UWNEMN funding in the previous funding year (2026) must first submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) for review and approval by UWNEMN's Board of Directors. Board approval is required before an organization may proceed to the full funding application.
Questions about the funding application process? Please contact Emily Unhjem at emily@unitedwaynemn.org for additional information or assistance.
UWNEMN is always in need of volunteers willing to participate in our fund distribution process to interview local agencies and help our Board of Directors decide how best to allocate funds.
As a volunteer in this process, you will have a chance to follow your donation and see firsthand how it is distributed, making decisions as to which agencies/programs receive funding and how much.
It is a powerful, eye-opening experience. Participants get to see what our organization is all about, learn about the needs in their communities, and see their contributions in action.
2027 Fund Distribution Days:
Iron Range: February 23, 2027
Koochiching County: March 17, 2027
2027 Fund Distribution Timeline:
NEW! November 1, 2026 - Letter of Intent (LOI) submission period opens for new funding applicants.
November 13, 2026 - Applications open to nonprofit organizations that received 2026 UWNEMN funding.
NEW! November 15, 2026 - Deadline to submit an LOI.
NEW! November 16, 2026 - UWNEMN Board of Directors reviews submitted LOIs.
January 7, 2027 - Application deadline.
February 23, 2027 - UWNEMN panels interview Iron Range agencies; UWNEMN Board makes funding determinations.
March 17, 2027 - UWNEMN panels interview Koochiching County agencies; UWNEMN Board makes funding determinations.
April 15, 2027 - First quarterly distribution of funding.
LETTER OF INTENT (LOI) PROCESS:
UWNEMN welcomes new funding requests from eligible organizations whose programs align with our Investment Plan.
Organizations that did not receive UWNEMN funding in the previous funding year must submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) as the first step in the application process. The LOI provides UWNEMN's Board of Directors an opportunity to review the proposed partner, its alignment with our funding priorities, and the community need it seeks to address.
Important LOI Dates:
November 1, 2026 - LOI submission period opens.
November 15, 2026 - Deadline to submit an LOI.
November 16, 2026 - UWNEMN Board of Directors reviews submitted LOIs.
Following board review, organizations will be notified of their application status.
Only organizations with an approved LOI will be invited to complete the full funding application.
Please note: Approval of an LOI grants permission to proceed with the full application process but does not guarantee funding.
To receive an alert when funding applications open for 2027, please contact emily@unitedwaynemn.org.